Originally Posted by
BelowMins
Directly from the President of Cape Air: He wants Jet-A burning recip engine aircraft similiar to the 402 with a little higher payload.
I recommended the Otter but he didn't seem to like that idea. It's fine in ice the fixed gear isn't an issue.
So they are looking for a turbo-diesel is what you're saying? Highly untested market so far, at least past what Diamond has done with the DA42. I do believe that these engines are the future of GA, just haven't made the leap yet. I also remember seeing something from Rolls-Royce about a smaller Turbo-Prop engine that will take the place of many of the IO/TIO-520/540 250+hp engines out there, with just a slightly higher fuel burn than the pistion varient. I haven't seen them actually put on an aircraft yet, but I'm sure that's just a matter of time.
Honestly, had no idea if the twin-otter was FIKI or not. Still don't know how they are going to get anything near the aquisition cost of the 402 w/o having some huge sacrifices.